The Santa Barbara Independent

Santa Barbara’s Elings Park Has Million-Dollar Opportunity to Renovate Softball Complex

Community By Ryan P. Cruz

An anonymous donor has pledged $1 million for upgrades if the park can raise $200,000 by May 1, 2026.

The Inaugural Coffee Culture Fest Is a Buzzy Success

Food & Drink By Leslie Dinaberg

Barista bragging rights go to Robert Bertha.

DUI Hit-and-Run Suspect Detained by Bystander After Downtown Santa Barbara Crash

Courts & Crime By Ella Heydenfeldt

A Montecito man was arrested after allegedly fleeing a collision that injured one person at Cota and State streets.

Review | ‘Somebody to Love’ Premiere at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura

Theater By Maggie Yates

Crowd-pleasing musical leaves reviewer wanting more depth.

Domestic Disturbance Leads to Police Pursuit, Freeway Crash

Courts & Crime By Ella Heydenfeldt

Suspect arrested after allegedly fleeing officers and crashing at La Cumbre Road exit on Highway 101.

Six Stellar Santa Barbara Spellers

Education By Emily Vesper

“Etiquette,” “Subtrahend,” and “Fricassee” send students to the podium.

UCSB Dance Company Presents ‘Convergence: into the center’

Dance By Alice Dehghanzadeh

A program blending contemporary dance, immersive staging, and collective storytelling heads to European stages.

multimedia Stories

Agents of Chaos: Border Patrol’s Year of Unchecked Force

Border Patrol agents have been roving from city to city over the last 15 months, far from their home bases

Emergency Podcast: The Trump Regime’s Shock Move to Ram Offshore Oil through S.B., and State’s 11th-Hour Bid to Stop It

Video

In a special ‘Newsmakers TV’ episode, ‘Independent’ columnist Nick Welsh reprises his exclusive reporting about the fast-moving Sable Oil story, as California faces off with Trump amid war with Iran.

Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Profiles Santa Barbara’s Hannah-Beth Jackson

Video

In her interview, Jackson describes her decades-long ambition to pass equal pay legislation and how Oscar-award winning Patricia Arquette “lit the match” under her efforts as a California state senator.

Goleta Punk Show Raises Money for Undocumented Families

Video

Desmadre Media hosted the event, which took place at Foundation Press in Old Town Goleta on February 28.

Shaping S.B. Response to Regime’s Deportation Raids: ‘Fear by Design: ICE Tactics, Impact, and What We Can Do About It”

Video

Next Monday, a special public forum convenes amid ongoing attacks by Trump’s masked paramilitary agents on local neighborhoods, families and those bearing witness, presented by Dem Women of S.B.

UCSB Arts & Lectures ‘Air Time’ | Tiler Peck: Curating the Jerome Robbins Festival

Audio

A conversation with Charles Donelan.

UCSB Arts & Lectures ‘Air Time’: Jon Cleary of Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen

Audio

A conversation with Charles Donelan.

Waves Crash over Santa Barbara Breakwater

Photo

Photographer Dave Everett captured the tall waves at the Santa Barbara Harbor Breakwater on the morning of February 17, as the surf and tides reach a peak with the new moon cycle. “Those who dared to take on the breakwater this morning … got wet,” Everett said.

One Last Look at the 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Photo

A photo recap of the 41st edition of SBIFF.

Bill Brown Chides ICE for “Excesses” – But Says Sheriff Must Stay “Neutral” Amid Anti-Immigrant Crusade

In an exclusive interview, Santa Barbara County’s top lawman expresses “empathy” for communities under federal siege, but insists his deputies cannot serve as watchdogs to protect protesters.

Arts & Entertainment

Book Review | ‘The Great Contradiction: The Tragic Side of the American Founding’ by Joseph J. Ellis

Books By David Starkey

America was troubled — and trouble — from the very start.

‘RECESS!’ A Trifecta of Virtuoso Performances

Dance By Jatila van der Veen

UCSB Dance Company Presents ‘Convergence: into the center’

Dance By Alice Dehghanzadeh

Review | ‘Somebody to Love’ Premiere at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura

Theater By Maggie Yates

Santa Barbara Musicians Turn Dream into Boutique Recording Studio

Music By Tiana Molony

More Arts & Entertainment

Food & Drink

Bodega Flower Girl Curates Contemporary Corner Store Vibes

Food & Drink By Matt Kettmann

Santa Barbara’s culinary scene veteran Emma West Roldan is now selling prepared foods, picnic supplies, paper towels, and much more on West Gutierrez Street.

Chocolate Maya’s New Mama

Food By Matt Kettmann

The Inaugural Coffee Culture Fest Is a Buzzy Success

Food & Drink By Leslie Dinaberg

Santa Barbara Gets a New Italian Festival

Music By Meaghan Clark Tiernan

More Food & Drink

Living

Free Will Astrology

Astrology By Rob Brezsny

Week of April 2.

Six Stellar Santa Barbara Spellers

Education By Emily Vesper

Santa Barbara’s Elings Park Has Million-Dollar Opportunity to Renovate Softball Complex

Community By Ryan P. Cruz

More Living

Sports

UCSB Offense Silenced in 2-0 Loss to No. 20 Oregon

Sports By Victor Bryant

UCSB baseball will travel to No. 12 ranked USC on Tuesday.

Timely Hitting, Strong Pitching Lift UC Santa Barbara Baseball Past No. 20 Oregon

Sports By Victor Bryant

San Marcos Moves to First Place in the Channel League Standings With 6-3 Victory Over Rival Dos Pueblos

Sports By Victor Bryant

More Sports

Real Estate

Mark Schneidman Honored as RISMedia 2026 R.E. Newsmaker

Real Estate Scoop By Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties proudly announces that longtime Santa Barbara Realtor® Mark Schneidman has been named to RISMedia’s 2026 Real Estate Newsmakers Class in the Influencer category. The national recognition honors industry professionals who drive meaningful change through leadership, innovation and measurable impact across the real estate industry.